Archive for category marietta

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Free Lobster at Houlihan’s East Cobb, Atlanta, GA

Feb 18

Posted by in Cheap, East Cobb, Seafood, atlanta, marietta | No Comments

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Get yourself some free tail on Thursdays. Lobster tail that is.

Every Thursday (after 4 p.m.), the East Cobb restaurant will give diners a complimentary cold-water lobster tail with every 9 oz. Prime Top Sirloin, 8 oz. Filet Mignon or 12 oz. New York Strip steak. There is no expiration date – they just told me they will keep the deal “while supplies last.”

1401 Johnson Ferry Rd
Marietta, GA 30062-6495
770-977-9324

Tags: East Cobb, Houlihan's, Lobster

West Cobb Magazine

Nov 16

Posted by in atlanta, marietta | No Comments

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I’m excited to announce that I’m now writing articles for West Cobb Magazine, which you can find here. So, you will probably see some more Cobb County focused reviews on Atlanta Restaurant Blog at least for the immediate future. Of course, I’ll still continue to post other reviews and great foodie information on my blog.

If you live in Cobb County, you should definitely check out the site, as they have great resources for things to do in Cobb County and beyond.

That’s it for today, but check back as I’ve got some great reviews coming up…

Tags: Cobb County, West Cobb

Cafe de Paris, Marietta, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

Nov 12

Posted by in East Cobb, French, Restaurant Reviews, breakfast, marietta, outdoor dining | No Comments

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Located in a strip mall in East Cobb, Café de Paris is a welcome refuge from the chain restaurants and fast food establishments that are abundant along the Johnson Ferry / Roswell Rd area. I visited this quaint French restaurant on a Wednesday afternoon for lunch. Tucked away in the corner of the Woodlawn Commons shopping center, Café de Paris is attached to a European style home décor store –C’est Moi, both owned by the same people.

Upon entering, you’ll notice the blackboard stand near the front door that lists the 3 or 4 specials of the day. There’s also a display of various canned and packaged foods for sale – with things like monkey bread mix, tri-colored pasta, pancake mix, syrup and the like several of the items imported from France.

Cafe De Paris Goods

The laminated menus are located near the register where you place your order. If there is a line when you enter, go to the counter and grab one of the menus, so you can peruse it as you wait in line. Once your order is placed and paid for, grab a seat and your meal will be delivered shortly.

The menu at Café de Paris is comprised on omelets, salads, sandwiches, and quesadillas (yes, quesadillas in a French restaurant). You can also choose a half and half combo consisting of your choice of 2 of the following: soup, salad or sandwich. It appears breakfast is served all day or at least through the lunch hour.

Cafe de Paris Quiche Lorraine

As it had been many, many months since I had had quiche, I ordered the quiche of the day- Quiche Lorraine and the soup of the day – Lobster Bisque. We also sampled the chicken salad sandwich melt. My cohorts and I were starved (we had skipped breakfast) and I was a bit concerned that the quiche Lorraine and the chicken salad melt weren’t going to sustain us for very long, but I remained satisfied well into the evening hours.

In my experience, true French food tends to be very rich but served in small portions, so the diner doesn’t feel gluttonous, and Café de Paris was no exception. My cup of soup and the small piece of quiche was served with a side of fruit, a welcome change from the normal carb fest at most other lunch spots.

Cafe de Paris Chicken Salad Sandwich Melt

My Quiche Lorraine was decent and had a fair offering of ingredients – ham, spinach and swiss cheese. But sandwiches are the real winner here. I sampled the chicken salad melt and it was divine. I’m a chicken salad addict myself, but the melt, served on thick toasted slightly sweet wheat bread was excellent. It had a slight lemon flavoring in it as well, which added another dimension of flavor.

I had the chance to sample all three of the featured soups that day: Lobster Bisque (which came with my meal), Tomato Basil and Lemon Artichoke. I felt the bisque was decent but a tad too sweet and creamy. I prefer my bisque to be a little more spicy as opposed to sweet.

“The Lemon Artichoke soup is what we are known for”, which the owner / manager, Jim (I only caught his first name) proudly extolled as he set the soup in front of me. It is definitely a bold flavor. It was not like anything I’d ever tasted before.

Cafe de Paris Lemon Artichoke Soup

And, to be honest, on the first sip, I didn’t care for it, as both the lemon and artichoke flavor is extremely strong, but it actually grew on me and I was loving it by the end. While in line, I heard 2 customers talking about it as well with polar opposite opinions, so it appears to be one of those dishes you either love or hate.

Café de Paris is open from 8 am until 9 pm every day but Sunday, when they close at 3 pm. The café also has dinner entrees like Steak au Poivre, Lamb Chops with Mint Pesto and Shrimp Carbonara all priced at under $14. Lunches are around $8.

Service was pleasant and quick. The majority of customers look like soccer moms out to lunch with their girlfriends, in between shopping and errand running. Although the atmosphere lends itself to the Parisian-style long, leisurely lunch, with the quick service it is possible to get in and out within your lunch hour. So, if you work in area, Café de Paris should be on your short list of lunch spots, a definite escape from the ordinary.

1100 Johnson Ferry Rd
Marietta, GA 30068
770 977-4945
Website

Tags: Bistro, East Cobb, French, marietta, Quiche, soups

Soba Bar and Bistro, Marietta, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

Sep 25

Posted by in Dates, East Cobb, Restaurant Reviews, Romantic, Sushi, Thai food, bar, chinese, marietta, thai | No Comments

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Soba Bar and Bistro is exactly what East Cobb needed in the exact location it needed it. There are not many non-chain restaurants in East Cobb, and even less with superior decor, food and service. Open for about 2 years, Soba is a freestanding building located off of Piedmont Rd near Roswell Road in the Publix Shopping center just across the street from the YMCA. Soba’s cuisine is Asian – with an offering of sushi, chinese and thai.

Bar at Soba

Stepping inside Soba Bar and Bistro, you would never know that it once housed El Toro restaurant. The restaurant has been completely transformed. Gone are any traces of a chain Mexican restaurant, replaced by beautifully appointed furnishings and several semi-private dining areas, perfect for groups or couples.

We were seated at a booth, but due to the proximity of a family with a screaming baby we chose to move to a more private area. Seriously people, do you really need to be told it is rude to have your screaming kid at a nice restaurant after 8 pm on a Friday night? But I digress…the staff was super friendly about us wanting to move.

Soba Pork Dumplings

Much happier with out new seating arrangements, we perused the menu. Torn between the calamari and the pork dumplings, we chose the dumplings as it was the healthier option (not being fried). The six dumplings came out shortly and were extremely tasty. It is a perfect appetizer for two to share.

Soba Firecracker Shrimp

I ordered the firecracker shrimp which to me is close to a Szechwan shrimp. And Glen, although a little skeptical, ordered the tuna steak. Having not eaten here before, we weren’t sure how fresh the fish would be, but the tuna was done perfectly. The pink center was just right, not to mention what a generous portion it was.

Soba Tuna

We finished the evening with the Xango Cheesecake. This is cheesecake wrapped in wonton-like substance and drizzled with lemon, raspberry and chocolate sauce. The plating was absolutely beautiful. Although I was pretty full at this point, it was totally worth it.

Soba Xango Cheesecake

Our server was helpful, friendly and efficient the entire night, making great recommendations. He may have been a little green (perhaps this is his first server job) but his eagerness to please made the service completely enjoyable. Entrees are priced modestly under $20 and there are beer and wine specials even on a weekend night. Overall, Soba Bar and Bistro is a great find in East Cobb.

1060 E Piedmont Rd NE
Marietta, GA 30062
770 971 1888
Website

Extras: Date night specials on Friday and Saturday: 1 bottle of wine, 2 entrees and dessert for $50. Tax and tip extra.

Tags: Asian Food, bar, East Cobb, Sushi, thai

Cobb County Restaurant Week, Marietta / Smyrna, Atlanta, GA

Sep 17

Posted by in American, East Cobb, Good for Groups, Italian, Prix Fixe, Southern, Steaks, Vinings, atlanta, marietta, steakhouse | No Comments

Not to be outdone by restaurants Inside the Perimeter, with their own restaurant weeks, Cobb County is having its own Restaurant Week. Beginning September 19th for one week, special restaurants in Cobb Country with be offering 3 course meals for $30, or lunch for $15. Of course, this doesn’t include tax, tip or alcohol.

Some participants are Aspen’s, Maggiano’s and South City Kitchen. Menu offerings look good, but the $30 price tag seems steep, considering restaurants ITP offer 3 course meals for only $25.

Participating restaurants along with their prix fixe menus can be viewed here.

Tags: Aspens, Cobb County, marietta, Prix Fixe, Smyrna, South City Kitchen

Social Media Marketing Gone Wrong?

Aug 5

Posted by in American, Cheap, Italian, atlanta, marietta | 1 Comment

With about 20 locations throughout the country, Spaghetti Warehouse decided to jump on the Social Media bandwagon. Spaghetti Warehouse’s promotion was to spread the word through Social Media (facebook, twitter, etc) that if individuals signed up to become a fan they would get a certificate for a free lasagna lunch on National Lasagna Day (July 29th).

Here’s the deal:
1. Sign up to be a fan (deadline 2 days before National Lasagna Day)
2. Coupon will be emailed to you
3. Print and Present coupon to server to redeem on National Lasagna Day – 7/29

Sounds like pretty straightforward, right? Well, there are a couple “gotchas” to this deal. First being that most users or fans expected to receive a coupon in their Facebook email as was indicated but never did. The problem? The coupon was hiding in the updates portion of your email section on Facebook.

I consider myself to be pretty internet / web savvy but wouldn’t have known to do this. In fairness, Spaghetti Warehouse did post a blurb on their Facebook page about where to check for your coupon so I was able to find it in time. But I would have never known had I not revisited their fan page to find this notice. And lots of other customers never found this out in time, missing out on the promotion. The evening before National Lasagna day, Spaghetti Warehouse had over 11,000 fans.

Secondly, and this is what I think was really sneaky on the part of Spaghetti Warehouse, is that once you download the coupon to print, it says the coupon must be printed in full color. This sent fans in uproar. I read comment after comment about how ridiculous it was and that people were not going to visit SW anymore.

Have a look at the coupon:

Spaghetti Warehouse National Lasagna Day Coupon

While I agree that Spaghetti Warehouse has the right to run their promotion any way they see fit, overall it seems crazy that they would want a color copy. What difference does it make it it is color or black and white? It gives me the impression that they hoped that their customers fail to read the fine print and show up with a black and white coupon only to find out their lunch wasn’t so free after all. I’d hate to be the server that delivers that news. Not to mention that’s a surefire way to turn loyal customers into ex-customers.

In comparison, Starbucks did a similar promotion in which they offered a free breakfast item with the purchase of a coffee. However, in their promotion, you didn’t even have to have a hard copy of the coupon. You could simply pull up the coupon image on your phone and it would be accepted at any Starbucks. Kudos to them for being more environmentally friendly.

But back to Spaghetti Warehouse. When Wednesday (aka National Lasagna Day) rolled around, I planned my visit early, (11:30 AM) bracing for a chaotic mess as we only have one Spaghetti Warehouse in Atlanta. Meeting up with my cohorts, we were actually surprised it was relatively empty. Could it be because Spaghetti Warehouse had pissed off their customers with their coupon stipulations?

Piling our coupons on the table, I waited for the perky expression of our server to morph into a look of disdain, but it never happened. Mary, our server, remained pleasant and helpful the entire lunch. Mary even checked back with us many times to make sure we had everything we needed. If you visit the Marietta location, you’d be lucky to get her as a server.

We were even offered bread with yummy garlic butter and the soup or salad that normally comes with the lasagna. I was expecting to just get the basic lasagna by itself. But they honored their normal lunch offering which consists of bottomless soup or salad. The Italian Wedding soup I had was delicious.

Here’s a picture of my lunch which I was very pleased with:

Spaghetti Warehouse Lasagna Lunch

So was Spaghetti Warehouse’s promotion a success or a flop? Actually both. The promotion itself was a good idea – sign up a bunch of fans via social media to create interest in your restaurant. It was simply the way they handled the distribution of information that was carried out poorly. Many of their fans may have been new to Facebook and not realized how to get the coupon which should have been explained more clearly. And the color coupon requirement was a little deceptive but the service on the day of the actual promotion was perfectly executed.

The bottom line is Social Media is still relatively new and companies are learning the ropes, so I am willing to cut them a little slack. Let’s hope Spaghetti Warehouse learns from this promotion and does better with the next one. I think the key thing to remember with Social Media is to keep in mind what you can do for your customer or reader before thinking of yourself.

Did you participate in this promotion? What are your thoughts?

Want more info on Social Media Marketing? Read my short report on 9 Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Site and Increase Sales.

Tags: Facebook, Lasagna Day, Social Media, Spagehtti Warehouse

Aspen’s Steakhouse, Marietta, Atlanta, GA Dining Deals

Jul 22

Posted by in American, Cheap, East Cobb, Seafood, Tapas, bar, marietta, steakhouse | No Comments

Aspens Steakhouse in Marietta, is offering some great deals. If you haven’t been there lately you may want to check them out. These deals are good until August 31. It looks like deals are good only at the Aspens East Cobb Location, not West Cobb.

Early Bird Specials:
Discounted menu entrees as low as $11. Available before 6 any day of the week and all evening long on Sundays and Mondays.

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays:
$5 small plates

Tuesday:
50 cent oysters in the bar area

2942 Shallowford Road
Marietta, GA 30066
Phone: (678) 236-1400
Aspens

Tags: Aspens, Cheap, East Cobb, marietta, Oysters, Tapas

Food, Inc. Showing, July 22, Strand Theatre, Mareitta, GA

Jul 21

Posted by in American, Cheap, Concert Venue, East Cobb, marietta | 1 Comment

If you still haven’t seen Food, Inc. here’s another opportunity to see it (but it isn’t free). However, if you live in Cobb and are looking for a place nearby, check out the Strand Theatre in Marietta which is showing Food, Inc. this Wednesday, July 22. Cost is $8 in advance, $10 at the door.

Here’s the deal:

The Strand, located in the historic Marietta square is hosting what they call “The Indie Triple Feature” They are designed to be affordable nights out featuring music and and Indie film. The way it works is that local band opens up, followed by an indie movie, which is then followed by a headliner band. The opening band goes on at 7:30 and the movie begins at 8.

For more information and to buy tickets, click here.

Extras: Indie nights are 18+ events

Tags: Food Inc, Indie Film, Marietta Square, Strand Theatre

Marietta Fish Market, Marietta, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

Jul 7

Posted by in American, Atlanta visiting, East Cobb, Family, Good for Groups, Restaurant Reviews, Seafood, marietta | 2 Comments

Marietta Fish Market

The Marietta Fish Market had a highly anticipated opening in Marietta in December 08. Started by the folks who brought you the Marietta Diner, there are obvious similarities between the two, most notably the enormous dessert portions. Seeing the throngs of diners since it opened, I thought I’d let them die down and work out any kinks before I visited the Marietta Fish Market.

So, it wasn’t until a recent June evening that I was able to sample the Marietta Fish Market. It is an oddity to have a restaurant offering valet service on a stretch of road mostly marked by fast food establishments, gas stations and outdated strip malls. There is some self-parking available, but by early evening (about 5 pm) most of it becomes valet territory. Driving by more times than I can count, and seeing the crowds at the Marietta Fish Market, it is apparent parking is a huge issue.

The most recent Father’s day found me there with my dad along with my brother and a couple others. My Dad refuses to go anywhere for dinner later than 5 pm. What is it with old people and eating early? To be fair, MFM was already starting to fill up at 4:30 when we arrived. Although I could tell the Marietta Fish Market is a big place, once inside I saw that they truly do have a huge amount of seating and a large waiting area: thank goodness because they need it.

Walking though to the dining area, I immediately noticed the display case of fresh seafood, reminiscent of another popular fish market in Atlanta. There are 4 dining areas: the bar area with high top tables, the outdoor patio, dining area with large booths for big parties and the second dining room with tables and chairs mostly accommodating groups of 4. Obviously expecting many more visitors than they could handle, they setup a couple large plastic tables and folding chairs on this Father’s Day.

I’m not sure why, but the hostess sat us at one of these “picnic-like” tables even though there were plenty of booths available when we arrived that could have much more comfortably sat our party of 5. I’m certain it can’t because the booths were reserved since they have a “no reservations” policy. So, 3 out of our party of 5 were seated.

They asked the names of the other 2 to join us, assuring they would bring them to our table when they arrived. But when our companions arrived and gave their name at the hostess stand, they didn’t make the connection, and were never brought to our table. It is always a shame when restaurants try to be a cut above by offering these perks only to drop the ball.

Although not overly impressed with the service by this point, I have to cut them some slack as it was a busy evening for them with it being Father’s Day. So, I overlooked this and was eagerly anticipating my dinner. Shortly after sitting down, our server brought us bread – a nice thick challah with a cream cheese spread. I loved the cream cheese but wish it was served on the side as it wasn’t evenly distributed on the bread.

Much like it’s sister restaurant, the Marietta Diner, the menu goes on and on and on….There’s so much to choose from, if you are like me, you’ll want to peruse the menu online before visiting the restaurant because in addition to the regular menu there are a list of daily specials to choose from as well.

MFM Zucchini Fries

MFM Oysters Bienville

We began with the zucchini fries and the Oysters Bienville. It is pretty apparent that the Marietta Fish Market doesn’t do anything in small portions. One appetizer would have been fine for our group of 5. The zucchini fries were terrific and the ranch dipping sauce was a nice touch. Please do yourself a favor and limit yourself to 1 appetizer. The oysters were ok, but I felt there was too much parm cheese and crumbs, which took away from the oysters. Having known that, I would have ordered the oysters on the half shell instead.

MFM Gumbo and Seafood Bisque

Moving on to mains: we all varied when it came to menu selection. As an aside, I really appreciated the fact that you can get a cup of their tasty soup with your meal – Seafood Bisque, Gumbo or Clam Chowder. So here goes:

Crab Cakes
Seafood Paella
Shrimp and Scallops Supreme
Chicken Tenders
Daily Special: Grouper pasta with shrimp

MFM Crab Cakes

MFM Shrimp and Scallop Surpeme Pasta

While my dad loved his crab cakes, he is not as picky as I am. I tasted a small piece and thought they were decent but certainly not anything outstanding. The shrimp and scallops in my meal were huge and there were lots of them too – no skimping here. Part of the appeal to me was the addition of artichokes in the pasta. While I enjoyed it and then again and again as 2 more leftover meals, I thought it was a little too cream heavy. I didn’t taste the chicken tenders or grouper pasta but they were well-liked by our other companions.

MFM Seafood Paella

Without a doubt, the star of the table was the Seafood Paella. While I’m not a fan of paella, this is one incredible dish. From the presentation to the generous portion of lobster, shrimp, scallops, mussels, it is very impressive. No wonder it was featured on The Food Network. Although the folks at Marietta Fish Market may not like this, this meal could easily be split between 3 or 4 people.

To be honest, I was getting rather full from the fries, oysters and soup by the time my meal arrived. The problem with seafood? Doggie bags and seafood don’t go well together. I ate as much as I could but still had plenty to take home. From the portion standpoint, it would be nice if there were half portions available. My brother who can definitely put a hurting on any buffet, still had to pack up most of his paella.

Leftover Paella

For the portion of food offered, the prices are extremely reasonable. Most entrees range from $17 to $20. But if you want to go for specials the the Seafood Paella, it will be more like $25, although well worth it. The quality is top notch too, very fresh.

I kept my eye on the servers and they were all busting their butts everywhere I looked. There was no slacking on this evening. By the time we were leaving, around 6:30 pm, the waiting area was packed with what must have been 40 -50 people. It was pretty noisy in the restaurant and most tables seat 4 to 6, so this is definitely not the place for a romantic date, but more a family atmosphere.

It is hard to see all those yummy cakes and pies and not order something. But just keep in mind, portions are huge. If you really want to try something smaller, I recommend the cannoli – small but still delicous!

MFM Cannoli Dessert

3185 Canton Rd
Marietta, GA 30066
678 354 6416
Website

Tags: marietta, Marietta Fish Market, Paella, Seafood

Presto Colombian Bakery / Restaurant, Marietta, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

Jun 22

Posted by in Cheap, East Cobb, Latin, Restaurant Reviews, culture, marietta | No Comments

Presto Colombian Bakery

Tucked away in a strip mall near Sidelines, you would never know the Colombian Bakery had such delicious meals. Glen turned me on to the Colombian Bakery after his co-worker took him there. While the restaurant is geared towards a Spanish speaking crowd (menus are in Spanish with English descriptions in parantheses), the staff really does do their best to accommodate non-Spanish speaking customers.

I’ve now been to the Colombian Bakery a handful of times. After ordering off the regular menu and the lunch special of the day, your better value is the lunch special. I love it when they have the whole fried fish (head, tail and everything). It is real deal at $6.99.

Colombian Bakery Empanadas

My most recent visit was with a group of 4. To begin we had the beef empanadas. Delivered quickly to our table, these crispy snacks were perfect in size, whetting our appetites but not leaving us too completely full to enjoy the feast that was to come. And the cilantro sauce that comes with it ads a pleasant degree of spiciness. If you can handle a little heat, don’t miss out on this.

While there was somewhat of a language barrier in the beginning, I think I’ve learned enough about ordering here that I can get by. Just know that the specials come with a choice of soup and either potatoes or maduros (sweet plantains).

Colombian Bakery Fish Soup

On my visit the soup was either chicken or fish soup. Fish soup = fish, shrimp and squid. Even though I was going to have fish for my meal, I still ordered the fish soup. And while I enjoyed it immensely, it would be nice if salad was an option as soup isn’t always my first choice on a hot day.

Colombian Bakery Whole Fried Fish

I’ve now had the whole fried fish twice and highly recommend it, although you’ll have to work for your food. By work, I mean separating the meant from the bones. As you can see form the picture above, you really do get the entire fish. head to tail complete with eyeball, which I ate swallowed on my most recent visit. While it seems like a huge portion of food, once you really start cutting into it you’ll see it isn’t nearly as much “meat” as it appears. Start in the back, dig in with your fork and go to work.

Colombian Bakery Chicken

The other daily special was chicken. I almost never order chicken when I go out to eat as it usually seems rather boring, but I did have a taste of the chicken at Presto and it was tender and juicy. Surprisingly it wasn’t spicy as I had suspected it might be.

If you want to get a true sampling of Colombian food order the Bandeja Paisa. At $11.50, it is well worth its price. The huge plate consists of a chorizo link, grilled beef, fried pork skin, fried sweet plantains, one corn cake, red beans and rice, an avocado half and a fried egg. Whew! Got all that?

Another one of my favorites is the Arroz Con Camarones (Shrimp and Rice). The huge portion of rice has lots of carrots and peas and has a rich tomato, onion and garlic flavor. And they don’t skimp on the shrimp. There are about 10 – 12 medium sized shrimp included. Definitely enough for 2 to share.

Extras: They have unique fruit drinks worth trying. Think Mango, Papaya and other tropical flavors. I assume they come in concentrate as they are offered mixed with your choice of water or milk. My favorite is the Guayaba, sweet but not too sweet, very refreshing on a hot summer day.

1392 B. Roswell Road
Marietta, GA 30062
770 973 2196
Website